Tag: Character: Professor Lal

Edie grinned back as she wrote down which stone corresponded to which professor, and then started to sketch the area, but realized something was still missing. “Where will each of you be? Corrie might be able to see you with her distance sight, but since it’s going to be dark, we shouldn’t take any chances.”

“Ah, we hadn’t worked that out.” Ginny looked at the other three professors. “I’ll take the southwest, between the magic and administration buildings.”

Edie leaned forward, curious what Link’s better plan might be. Did he want Tom out front as the main plan, despite what Professor Rook said? Maybe he had something else in mind, now that the backup was here. She was just glad that he was no longer protesting against the whole concept—he just wanted to make improvements.

Troy made a protesting noise without opening his mouth, and Charlie’s mom shook her head. “You don’t need to worry. We’ll be there to protect you. Don’t you agree, Francis, Marie?”

“I’m sure we can hold our own against this faerie,” Corrie’s dad said. “If nothing else, Link, I’m sure we can hold her back long enough for you and Troy to get away, if necessary.”

Edie was very curious as to how Professor Strega and Tom knew each other. She didn’t seem happy to see him there at all. Maybe he’d messed with her before—that did seem to be what he liked to do. But presumably he hadn’t done her any lasting harm, because she seemed mostly satisfied with the answer she’s gotten.

The rest of the room seemed to be more interested in what Tom had just said to Troy.

“Um, prince?” Charlie said, looking at Troy.

“I get the idea there are a few more introductions to be made,” Corrie’s dad said.

Edie couldn’t help being anxious as they waited at the gate. Tom did show up, though, several minutes later, looking around dubiously at the gate as though it were going to swing shut on him unexpectedly. “Hello there, ladies,” he said as he stepped onto campus. “Where to?”

“We’ll wait here for a few more minutes,” Dawn said. “We’re expecting Corrie’s father and maybe a few others to help us out.”

Tom raised his eyebrows. “You expect a human’s father to be useful in this situation?”

“Well, he’s not entirely human,” Corrie said. “We did tell you we were asking werewolves for help.”

Corrie was a little surprised to find that she was getting more and more enthusiastic about this plan as they discussed it. She didn’t really need to be convincing Troy and Link of the plan—it was the magic professors’ plan, so it was their job to get the Djanaea on board. But she wanted the plan to work, even if not all of it made sense.

Maybe it was just that it was the only plan they had. She wanted Gerlina to be caught; she wanted the murders to stop. If this was going to give them the best chance, then she wanted everyone in on it.

Corrie managed a smile and nodded at Dawn. She was asking the right question. If the magic professors did have a plan, that would probably make Link feel better about the whole thing. If they didn’t actually have a plan, though, then it was best for everything to wait until they could come up with something useful.

“Yes,” Professor Lal said. “At least, we have the rudiments of a plan. The center of campus seems to attract her the most, so that is where we will be. Troy, if you agree to be part of our plan, you will exit the magic building and walk across the grass as though you are walking toward the science building. We will be concealed around that space, at the various entry points.” She made a gesture that took in herself and the other three magic professors. “One of us should be able to see or sense Gerlina when she enters, but as an extra precaution, we will have Corrie watching with her distance sight, which will allow her to survey the entire area from above.”

Corrie took her usual seat in the classroom, with Dawn by her side. Edie sat down next to Corrie, and Troy and Link, after a little hesitation, sat down on Edie’s other side. The professors chose chairs from around the room; Professor Lal and Professor Rook showed no compunction dragging chairs to suit themselves and face the others. Corrie hoped that Professor Strega hadn’t been too attached to the current arrangement—she couldn’t remember any student ever moving the chairs or even asking to move them.

“You know that we are on our way to capturing the murderer and we wish to ask for your help,” Professor Lal said, nodding at Troy and Link. “Ginny will explain what we have discovered.”

“The faerie who attacked you and killed several other students is called Gerlina,” Ginny said. She looked very comfortable perched on a tall stool. “Does that name mean anything to you?”